Story ICC Best Of The Rest Championship

[Short Leg]

Back In Your Box Australia​

1st TVS Test - Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Australia 4/184 - 46 overs
12:04pm - Day 5

Hayden 90(142)
Symonds 20(9)*

Pathan 2/63
Khan 0/22
Harbhajan Singh 1/37
Kumble 1/49
Tendulkar 0/5

Australia require 267 runs to win

Irfan Pathan has just stuck it up Australia with the wicket oif danger man and in form batsman Matthew Hayden in the nervous 90's. Hayden was hitting the leather so well that only luck could stop him from making yet another hundred in the touramnet and guess what. Bingo. An inside edge onto timber has Hayden in the shed and Australia in trouble at 4 down.

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Hayden out and India ontop now​

Mike Hussey will be joining Symonds in the middle who by the way is seeing the pill like a beachball and is looking like saving his test career in this innings.

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Hussey has grabbed his international oppertunities so far lets see if he can do it again​

Can Australia get back in the drivers seat of the 1st Test or will India have the bowling power to go through the middel and lower order?

 

[Short Leg]

Australia Still In The Hunt​

1st TVS Test - Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Australia 4/240 - 59 overs
Lunch - Day 5

Symonds 47(40)*
Hussey 26(47)*

Pathan 2/83
Khan 0/33
Harbhajan Singh 1/37
Kumble 1/49
Tendulkar 0/28

Australia require 211 runs to win

The tourists are still in the first test at the first break on the final day but they have to conserve wickets aswell as score at a healthy rate. The pitch is holding up nicely and is allowing the likes of Symonds and Hussey to play there shots. With Gilchrist in next who knows what will happen as Australia need over 200 to claim victory and India need the 5 wickets because of McGraths absence.

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Indias bowling has been off the mark in this innings with Khan yet to pick up a wicket in the match so far and Pathan left with a heavy work load. The spinners have been given no respect by Symonds as the are chasing leather all over Eden Gardens.

A very important first hour on the cards here will ensure that every seat is full around the ground in expectation that this one could go down to the wire.

 

[Short Leg]

Pitch Plays Tricks On Mike​

1st TVS Test - Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Australia 5/260 - 66 overs
1:58pm - Day 5

Symonds 57(62)*
Hussey 35(67)

Pathan 2/83
Khan 0/42
Harbhajan Singh 2/41
Kumble 1/49
Tendulkar 0/35

Australia require 191 runs to win

Andrew Symonds reached 50 in a spirited display against the Indias. It was clear that India needed a breakthrough or else Roy and Mr Cricket could run away with the match. Harbhajan provided.

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A career saving 50 for Symonds​

The match tilted slightly in Indias favour when Mike Hussey was brought undone by a ripping top spinner from Harbhajan. The ball kicked off the deck and balooned to cover where the skipper exepted the catch. Australia running out of batsman and desperatly need Symonds to weave some magic.

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Mike Hussey was done by the pitch​

With Adam Gilchrist coming to the crease so who knows what might happen here. Still with alot of time and runs to get Australia can afford to consolidate for the moment and make up the runs later.

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In form Gilchrist will have a say in this match​

India need another wicket quickly here and then they will have cracked the game open but for now Australia are still in with a sniff.

 

[Short Leg]

Symonds Throws It All Away​

1st TVS Test - Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Australia 6/278 - 73 overs
2:30pm - Day 5

Symonds 63(85)
Gilchrist 12(17)*

Pathan 2/88
Khan 0/42
Harbhajan Singh 2/45
Kumble 1/49
Tendulkar 1/44

Australia require 173 runs to win

Sachin Tendulkar is the unlikely hero for India because he has taken the prize scalp of Andrew Symonds. A loose shot from the man with a start sore him hang the bat out and edge one through to Dhoni who took a ripper of a catch.

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A soft dismissal for Symonds​

Australia are effectivly 7 down now as Glenn McGrath isnt even in the country. A strong tail end performance is required here and Gilchrist will need to steer his side home otherwise India are going to go 1-0 up in this 3 test series. Dont go anywhere theres plenty more action to come.

 

[Short Leg]

Down To 2 Hours​

1st TVS Test - Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Australia 6/334 - 89 overs
Tea - Day 5

Gilchrist 23(62)*
Warne 38(53)*

Pathan 2/111
Khan 0/59
Harbhajan Singh 2/45
Kumble 1/49
Tendulkar 1/60

Australia require 117 runs to win

It looks like this enthralling match will go the distance as we go into the final session still with the game in the balance. Australia would be unlikely to win from ere despite the efforts of Warne and Gilchrist who have built a good partnership but the visitors only have 3 wickets in the shed. India will look to keep there strike bowler Pathan opperating along with one of the spinners as Khan hasnt picked up a wicket in this match so far.

India may be wondering if they have blown there chances of a win after they dropped an out of character Gilchrist on 15. Gilly was moving along slowly when he edged to second slip and was put down.

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Gilchrist given a second chance. Will it be Indias last to see the back of him?​

Can we get a rrsult in the first test or will the Australian lower order hold out for just 2 hours. Or even the unlikely event of an Australian win after all Gilchrist can turn it on. Who knows what will happen in the last session of this match. Who is your money on?

 

[Cricket_60]

Still possible...

 

[gary0808]

I can see the Aussie win because don't you see Gilly loving this

 

[Short Leg]

Gilly Makes It Interesting​

1st TVS Test - Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Australia 7/384 - 101 overs
4:50pm - Day 5

Gilchrist 51(101)
Warne 57(85)*

Pathan 2/116
Khan 0/89
Harbhajan Singh 2/45
Kumble 1/49
Tendulkar 2/74

Australia require 67 runs to win

Gilchrist and Warne brought up there individual half centuries aswell as the hundred partnership in style as Australia looked to be crusing through the final session.

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Half centuries for both Wrne and Gilchrist wil help Australia ​

Sachin Tendulkar put a stop to a visibly frustrated Gilchrist who couldnt play his natural game. Gilchrist was judge LBW by Rudi Koertzen swinging across the line and now leaves the door open for India as the tourists only have two wickets in hand.

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Gilchrist was frustrated out of this match​

Shane Wrane is the man in fine touch and on his way to a big score. I vow to get Warney a Test hundred before this story is complete. Australia will be looking to prove that its not the size of the dog in the fight its the size of the fight in the dog in this final hour of play.

 

[Short Leg]

One Chance Left​

1st TVS Test - Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Australia 8/408 - 107 overs
5:16pm - Day 5

Warne 71(99)*
Lee 10(18)

Pathan 2/119
Khan 0/89
Harbhajan Singh 2/50
Kumble 1/49
Tendulkar 3/90

Australia require 43 runs to win

Brett Lee is out in the fashion as he was in the first innings. He top edged a pull shot off a rank long hop from Tendulkar that landed straight in Pathans mits.

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Cricket Australia will be wishing that they had of kept Glenn McGrath in the country now that they are effectivly 9 down and are relying on Warne and Bracken to last for 45 minutes to draw this match. Australia have nothing to lose here as a draw gives no points. They would simply be stopping India from gaining full points. Warne may decide that he wants to go after the runs here and maybe even his first test hundred.

 

[Short Leg]

Can Australia Pull Off The Unthinkable?​

1st TVS Test - Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Australia 8/438 -116 overs
6:00pm - Day 5

As the sun begins to set in Kolkata Rudi Koertzan and Steve Bucknor come together in the middle and have decided on the last over of the test match.

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The sun sets over Eden Gardens when the last over is about to be bowled​

Australia need 13 runs off this over to win and the ball has been given to Sachin Tendulkar who has bowled tightly all day and turned the ball on this spin friendly pitch. Shane Warne is on strike in the 90's but that will be the last thing on his mind. The tense final 6 balls come to you from Cricinfo.

Match State: 6:00pm - Day 5

Australia require 13 runs to win

SK Warne 91* (136b 9x0) SR Tendulkar 30-2-105-3
NW Bracken 8* (22b 0x0) A Kumble 12-0-55-1

Ball 1: SR Tendulkar to Warne, two runs, Back foot leg glance to a short ball pitching on leg stump worked through mid wicket.

Ball 2: SR Tendulkar to Warne, one run, short of a length again, Warne goes back and flicks out to deep square

Ball 3: SR Tendulkar to Bracken, one LB, Bracken guesses about the delivery and gets pad on it away past the keeper, Warne scampers through

Ball 4: SR Tendulkar to Warne, FOUR RUNS, Full ball pitching on off stump, Warne swings hard and edges over the feild and to the fence at 3rd man.

Ball 5: SR Tendulkar to Warne, 1 run, Couldnt do much with the quicker one and only gets the single out to the deep.

Australia require 4 runs off the final ball of the test match and India need only one wicket. Nathan Bracken takes a look around the feild as Tendulkar reaches the top of his run up. Who will be the hero in this match?

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Bracken scans the feild but can he hit 4 off the last ball to win the 1st test.​

 

[Cricket_60]

A really close and interesting game Short Leg. Go Bracken

 

[Short Leg]

A Major Anticlimax​

1st TVS Test - Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Australia 8/447 -117 overs
Stumps - Day 5

Match Is A Draw

Points: India 2 first innings points - Australia 0 points

In a major turn of events the fianl ball of the test match was a dot ball leading to the draw of the first test from Kolkata.

A fully pitched ball just outside offstump got through Bracken who was attempting to smash over the top of mid off. A bit dissapointing to have no winner here but that just means we will have an even bigger anticipation to the second match of the series which will be a must win for both teams.

Shane Warne is left stranded at the non strikers end on a painful 99 not out which at leased betters his highest score by remaining unbeaten. Without his effort Australia would have lost along time ago so alot of credit goes to the Victorian.

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Alot to play for in Chennai so we'll see you there.

 

[Short Leg]

Post 1st TVS Test Press Conference​

After the conclusion of a thrilling first test in the TVS Series India and Australia had a chance to talk about how the match unfolded.

The Indian captain Rahul Dravid was accompanied by star performer Yuvraj Singh and team coach Greg Chappell.

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I am pleased with the way we conducted ourselves on the field but also saddened that we couldn?t get over the line in the match. We showed a strong team performance all the way through to the final ball and were on top for most of the match. Credit to Australia they made it tough for us and denied us the lead in the series aswell as outright points.

Yes as Rahul said we showed how good we are as a team. Obviously I am thrilled with my performance and I defiantly think we showed Australia what playing in India is all about.

I couldn?t be happier with they way Rahul took control out on the field and I am looking forward to the next match where we should be able to take a lead in the series. India was the best team on the field in all 5 days

Representing Australia was skipper Ricky Ponting, Centurion Justin Langer and coach John Buchanan.

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We showed a lot of character in this match. We have proved on a number of occasions that this team can win from anywhere and we almost did that again today. We will be taking a lot of positives into the 2nd Test now that we have a taste of what its like to play test cricket in India.

At the end of the day we didn?t come away with the points but I think we have learned a lot of lessons in this match. A few blokes that hadn?t played here before will take a lot away and we will grow as a team.

Not much needs to be said from me the boys did very well today and we will consider ourselves unlucky not to have won the match.

 

[Short Leg]

Pick A Bowler Any Bowler​

Former Australian paceman Jeff Thomson slammed Cricket Australia?s decision to let Glenn McGrath travel home to be with his family during the middle of a test match during the week.

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It is bullshit that a professional cricketer can just pick up his bags and leave during the middle of a test match. This isn?t park cricket it is fair?d incom stuff and in any other time the board would have laughed at you if you asked to pack up and go home. Pull your finger out Cricket Australia you?re a bunch of jokes.

The question remains about Glenn McGrath?s replacement for the tour. Word has spread that the selectors are tossing up between young quick Shaun Tait and even a test recall for either Michael Kasprowicz or Jason Gillespie however Mick Lewis and Stuart Clark have also been mentioned.

 

[Short Leg]

Selectors Announce Replacements​

The Australian selectors are bringing in the heavy artillery just in time for the 2nd TVS Test Match in Chennai. South Australian Shaun Tait and Queenslander Michael Kasprowicz received a call at 7:00pm E.A.S.T from chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns giving them the news of there inclusion into the Australia squad for the final 2 test matches.

However the selectors are yet to conclude there final bowling attack to take on India in Chennai. Who will partner pace spearhead Brett Lee and spin king Shane Warne is anyone?s guess. Nathan Bracken is also not set in stone as his bowling seemed scratchy at times.

The media caught up with Michael Kasprowicz just before he boarded a plane to India at Brisbane airport.

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I was just getting ready to sit down and watch Happy Gilmore with the wife when the call came through telling me to pack my bags and get on a plane to Chennai in 12 hours. It was a big shock but I am very excited about a possible recall to the Australian side. I never gave up hope about one day returning to the team.

Shaun Tait also said a few words to local news on his return to the touring squad

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It?s just one of those things I guess. It comes up on you pretty quickly. I got the call saying ?Sloon pack your kit up and get down to India for the second test.? Im wrapped that I have a chance to play for Australia again after coming back from injury. The ball has been coming out well at state level and im bowling at my quickest these days so "Im feeling good about my chances of cracking some skulls."

There you have it two exciting inclusions to the Australian squad will be touching down in Chennai any minute now in time for the second test which promises to be a beauty.